The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-08-07
A STRANGE MAN,
Was Colonel Hayes, the Mayor
Of lingo.

~ O~ASSs
"That is our mayor, Colonel
Hayes"
The speaker was Mr. Jones, the edit
or of the Clarion, who was showing
me the points of interest in the flour
ishing town of lingo.
l had missed connection with the
western train, and was compelled to
wait several hours before resuming my
Journey. 1t was relief to meet Jones
in that strange place. Although we
had never been very intimate, our
business relations, extending through
man years. had been very pleasant and
satisfactory.
So when Jones pointed out the mayor
of his town l was prepared to say some
thing complimentary.
But my first careless glance at Colo
mel Hayes was followed by an intense
scrutiny.
The mayor was man of perhaps
fifty. but he looked older He was tall
and thin, but his appearance indicated
great activity and strength. His ruddy
face and keen black eyes contrasted
strangely with his white hair and mus
taehe. 1t was easy to see that he was
man of energy, and his square chin
gave him determined. bulldog look.
'Is it possible?" thoughtlessly ex-
claimed.
Jones must have read my tell-tale
face, for he drew me into quiet back
street.
You know him?" he said. You
have seen him before"
ut is the most remarkable thing in
the world" said in my unguarded
excitement. 1.-The last time saw that
man was fifteen years ago in a
mining camp in California. He
had been arrested for stealing
a horse, and the miners were going to
lynch him. In some way he made his
escape, and as all efforts to trace him
failed. it was believed that he met his
death in the woods"
''You are sure that he is the MANI"
Il never forget face" replied
''your mayor is the horse-thief of Pie
dras Campr'
Fifteen years ago." said Jones,
mcditatively. "Yes, that fits the case.
He was away four or five years, and his
wife and baby had a rather hard time
of it. When he came back he had
plenty of money. He went into bust
ness and prospered, and now he is the
mayor of lingo. 1t is all right. Yes,
it is all r-i-g-h-t!''
Ibid not like the way he gritted his
teeth. The genial smile had faded
away, and the man had sullen, threat
enipg look.
You must not mention this" said.
ave led n rough life In the mines, and
if Hayes has been good citizen since
he came home, the best way is to say
nothing about it. Don't dig up man s
dead past
"Oh, don't be uneasy" my friend
answered, with laugh. II am not
counting danger, and it would be dan.
gerous to tackle Hayes. But you have
just time to make your train. You
must run for it."
This knocked every thing else out Of
my head, and with hasty farewell
made for the station, reaching it just
in time to board the last car as it was
moving off.
Three days later the Herald con
tanned bloodcurdling account of thu
murder of Editor Jones, at lingo.
The story filled column, but tn.
facts could have been summed up il
half dozen lines. Jones had beer
stabbed through the heart while sitting
in his Office late at night. Nothing o
value was missing. and there was n,
clew to the perpetrator of the deed.
As the paper slipped through m.
nerveless fingers, the face of the mayo
of lingo seemed to loom up before me
The thought occurred to me tina
Jones must have abused my confidence
In some way he had let Hayes know
that he had unveiled his past life, ant
the mayor had assassinated him.
As pondered over the affair thi
theory grew into conviction. felt
sense Of guilty responsibility. VIII,
had blabbed about the matter at all
What business was it of mine? In
rattle-brained way had told curious
sensation-loving village newspape
man secret that was calculated +
blast Hayes's reputation, and drag hir
and his family down into the depths Q
humiliation and disgrace.
When the train rolled into lingo a
ten o'clock that night was one of tn
passengers. / had found it impossible
to rest until the mystery was sifted I
the bottom.
On my way to the hotel my attentio
was drawn to a large and brilliar
lighted mansion.
Mayor Hayes is holding a grand RI
ception tonight" remarked the hac
driver. 1T is swell affair"
In the morning l wondered why
had come to lingo. The talk | hear
on every hand was not encouraging
While the murder was regarded as
shocking and brutal crime, it was plai
that the community did not regr'
losing Jones.
You see,' said my landlord, "whi
he had the appearance Of being cieve
genial fellow. he was always stickin
Bis nose into everybody's business, an
tits pretty we'll known that he was
lsokmsilsr The people bad NO co